Vicar prays for end to St Thomas’ Church Hall saga

HOPING: The Rev Stephen Grey at St Thomas' Church Hall

A vicar is praying for an end to a planning wrangle which has held up the creation of a new community hall for at least two years.

The Rev Stephen Grey is hoping Wyre planning committee will finally grant full planning permission for St Thomas’ Church Hall to be revamped into four homes, together with the creation of another home on the car park.

Once permission is granted, the site, on Church Street, Garstang, can be sold to developers, and the cash can be used to finish the shell of a new church hall down the road in the vicarage garden.

“This has been going on for years,” said Rev Grey. “One of the problems has been that there are various parties involved. We want to keep the facade of the hall, and the other plot earmarked for a house would be left for use as a car park.

“I understand the full planning application will be considered on March 6 by the planning committee,” said Rev Grey. “I really hope this will be the end of it, and that we can move on and create a new community hall for use by people in Garstang.

“The old hall has served the community as school and hall since 1845 and we wish to continue that service with the new. We already have organisations queueing to use it. There has been massive support from local people, with more than 50 letters of support, and I would like to say a big thank you.”